Jimmy Silk, a partner in H Street Country Club and Capitol Lounge, is working with developer Joe Englert to open an Italian restaurant with indoor bocce courts called Vendetta in the former Red Palace space. (Despite what was reported on H Street Great Street, Granville Moore‘s Teddy Folkman tells Y&H he is not involved.)

The casual H Street NE spot will feature an “authentic, soulful” menu that includes six to eight different pastas and sauces that can be mixed and matched. In addition to more traditional sauces, you’ll find pork jowl and tomato ragu, squid ink, and walnut kale pesto. There will also be appetizers like fresh burrata and a sausage platter as well as sandwiches, salads, and four to five daily chef’s selections. (One of the dishes they’ve played with is a braised cinnamon crusted lamb shank with vanilla Chianti polenta and a broccoli rabe relish.)

Executive chef James Figueroa-Perez comes to D.C. from Miami, where he was most recently chef for the president of Florida International University. He was previously executive sous chef at Sofitel Miami from 2009 to 2011.

Silk says he’s going for a homey feel and “Adirondack rustic” look with lots of wood outfitting the 5,000 square foot space. The two-story restaurant will have 120 seats and two 35-foot bocce courts upstairs (which will be free to play). The second floor will also be home to the 16-seat “Vespa bar” with Vespas suspended from the ceiling. Vendetta will serve beer, wine, and prosecco on tap as well as cocktails.

Vendetta is set to open mid-April. It will start with dinner and eventually expand to brunch and lunch.

Vendetta, 1210 H St. NE